Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Positive Momentum is Building in Elyria

By Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda

Despite serious financial challenges, the City of Elyria is finding ways to build positive 
momentum towards a more promising future.  A recent voluntary Performance Audit by the State, prudent management, cost-cutting, reorganization, aggressive grant and other fund development, creative thinking and willing partners have allowed the City to advance a number of projects. 

That being said, despite progress, the positive momentum will only continue if the City of Elyria passes Issue 5, the half percent income tax renewal that does not increase taxes but simply continues to fund vital basic city services like police and fire protection, maintaining our roads and parks, and leaf pick-up and snow removal.  Because Issue 5 represents 20 percent of Elyria’s General Fund Budget, failure will unfortunately result in the layoff of about 125 of the city’s 450 employees, thus stopping the momentum and crippling city services. 
Over the past 22 months the City of Elyria’s new administration and city employees have worked very hard to create a more efficient and effective city government and do more with less. Over $1.7 million of reductions have already occurred and additional cuts are being made even with the passage of Issue 5. Grant dollars discussed here cannot take the place of public funding to support basic city services.  


  
Road, Bridge and Infrastructure Improvements

Photo courtesy of the Chronicle Telegram
Before the end of the year, Elyrians will see the rebuilding of the Ford Road Bridge completed, $796,049.00 in improvements to eleven streets, and about $500,000 in emergency sewer repairs.  In early 2014 a $28 million Midway Mall area reconfiguration project at the intersection of State Route 57, the Ohio Turnpike and the 49th Street Bridge will begin.  The project, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Transportation, will improve a high crash area, make the Mall area easier to navigate, improve the Mall entrance, and enhance further economic development activity and job creation.  Also in 2014 Elyrians will see the reconstruction of Middle Avenue thanks to an infusion of state grant funding. 

A New Economic Development Focus
The City of Elyria also has a new focus on economic development and job creation underway.  A planning and market analysis project has started that will help the City update its economic development strategy for the downtown, Midway and Cleveland Street business districts as well as our industrial base.  The City administration has brought to the table new, regional and local economic development partners representative of area financial institutions, commercial property owners, educational institutions, and a group of regional volunteer experts in the areas of real estate redevelopment and planning to inform the reinvention of Elyria’s downtown.  Before the end of the year, Elyrians will begin to see an infusion of pop-up businesses with an initial focus on the arts.  To further advance economic development efforts a Community Development Corporation is being created and a new Economic Development Specialist has been hired by the City.  The position was made possible with no additional tax dollars through a reorganization of services.

Strides to make Elyria Safer
Additional reallocation of resources has also allowed the City to reinstitute its Elyria Police Narcotics Unit.  Since its inception in late Spring, the unit has helped make Elyria safer by yielding 162 arrests, 51 undercover buys that resulted in 44 arrested drug dealers, and the issuance of 14 search warrants that led to the confiscation of 36 firearms, 13 vehicles seized and $91,000 in cash.  The total estimated street value of drugs confiscated to date is about $500,000.  The City is also working very closely with volunteer neighborhood Block Watch organizations to support their efforts, increase communications and grow the number of block watches across Elyria.  Moreover, recent actions by the police and law departments have made the downtown area much safer, closing down a number of bars and business establishments that were harboring criminal activity. 

Improving Elyria Neighborhoods  
 Another safety focus has been on the improvement of Elyria’s neighborhoods.  In the past 18 months, the City of Elyria has processed for demolition 100 condemned homes and another 72 are pending.  These demolitions are being made possible with funds from a combination of outside federal grants and national mortgage loan settlement funds being distributed through the Lorain County Land Bank.  The homes being targeted for demolition are beyond repair and often harbor criminal activity.  Their removal is reducing crime and will preserve, and in some cases improve, neighborhood property values.  Elyria residents have stepped forward to work with the City to help return some of these now vacant lots to productive reuse.  This past summer eight community gardens popped up throughout the City that grew fresh produce to help improve neighborhoods and nurture families.  Anyone interested in participating in the 2014 City of Elyria Community Garden project can call the Mayor’s Office on Volunteer Engagement at (440) 326-1402.    

Parks Improve Our Quality of Life: Cascade, Summer Camps, Holiday Lights, Ice Arena Anniversary  
Before the end of the year, largely through grants, the City of Elyria will complete about $1 million of improvements to Cascade Park.  In addition, a new partnership struck between the City of Elyria and the Lorain County MetroParks that begins in 2015, will make an additional $2 million of improvements and enable the MetroParks to take over the daily operation and maintenance of Cascade and Elywood Parks throughout the period of a renewable 50-year lease.    This new partnership will help the City of Elyria return Cascade Park to its original glory and beyond.     

And thanks in large part to the generosity of Individuals, corporations, foundations and other willing non-profit partners – the City offered 14 free summer camps to almost 900 Elyria children and youth this summer and it will be continuing the program in 2014.  The fun will continue this fall and winter as the Elyria Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the community, hosts Holiday at Finwood Estate and the Holiday Lights program in Ely Square – this year with the added twist of ice sculptors for your family viewing pleasure.     
And if that isn’t enough, don’t forget it’s the 50th anniversary of the North Park Ice Arena and there are special events planned throughout the skating season including a special appearance by the Lake Erie Monsters on October 28 from 6:00 – 7:30pm.  Bring the family, watch their practice and meet and skate with the players themselves!  Mascot Sully the seagull will also be on hand for the festive evening.  The official skating season begins Friday, November 1, with four more special events scheduled from December through March.  For more details, go the to the City of Elyria Website and click on the Elyria Parks and Recreation page.       

Issue 5 is Needed to Keep the Momentum Going
The City of Elyria is on the upswing, but renewal of the half percent income tax is critical to the City’s ability to keep moving forward.  With 20 percent of the city’s workforce at stake, citizens who want to keep vital city services must come out and vote.  And remember, Issue 5 is not a tax increase and only applies to earned income – it does not apply to retirement, social security, unemployment and disability income.